Apparatus for lifting and turning invalids in bed



June 6, 1944. c. E. DIVINE 2,350,595

APPARATUS LIFTING AND TURNING INVALIDS IN BED Filed July 12, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOI'R C/arenae AKA/me C. E. DlVlN E June 6, 1944APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TURNING INVALIDS IN BED Filed July 12. 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 C/agwce I saw! .6

1 RV Y E. 5 MN N R Ea m N T l A Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TURNING INVALIDS IN BED 3Glaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for lifting and turning an invalidin bed.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of this nature whichis strong and. simple in construction, easy to set up or apply to a bed,easy to operate and efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a light weightcollapsible invalid lifter and turner which can be quickly and easilytaken down and folded into a compact package for handling and storageand shipment.

Another object is to provide apparatus for lifting or turning an invalidin bed, which apparatus makes it possible for one person, such as anurse, to easily and gently lift or turn a heavy person with theexpenditure of a small amount of energy.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this nature comprising pliableslingmeans arranged to be slipped under a patient and independentlycontrolled power step-up means connected with each end of said sling forindependently lifting or lowering either end portion of the sling toturn the patient.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this nature comprising slinglifting means that is self locking and that makes it substantiallyimpossible to drop a patient on the bed after the patient has beenlifted.

Another object is to provide a device of this nature having simple andefficient and readily detachable means for supporting the device fromthe side rails of a bed.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly inelevation of an invalid lifter and turner constructed in accordance withmy invention, showing the same attached to a bed, the bed shown partlyin section and partly by broken lines,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a s1ing member to be used in raising a portionof the body of a patient.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the bed rail clampingmeans clamped to a bed in which the angle bar side rail is in adifferent position from the side rail shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detached view partly in section and partly in elevation ofbed rail clamping means adapted to clamp onto a cylindrical bed rail.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation substantiallyon broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing a housing and worm gear means on alarger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view with parts in elevation showing awinding or lifting tube device of two part construction with worm gearmeans at both ends thereof.

5 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view with parts in elevation of adouble tube winding device similar to the one shown in Fig. 6, exceptthat the two worm devices thereof are positioned at one end so that bothmay be operated from the same side of the bed.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the worm gear devices used in Figs.6 and '7, showing cam means for locking two housing parts in twopositions to maintain the worm and worm gear therein in meshed relationor unmeshed relation.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a sling member to be used in turning a patientand which is particularly adapted for use with the winding tube deviceshown in Figs. 6 and 7, and may also be used go with the winding tubedevice shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a rectangular sling long enough to support anadult patient from head to foot and comprising a fabric sling supportedon a rigid but demountable frame.

:5 Fig. 11 is a side elevation of my device attached to a bed andsupporting the sling member shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detached view partly in elevation and partly in sectionshowing a hook used on the end of a lifting cable.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Figs. 1 to 5 show a device constructed in accordance with my inventionand comprising a rotatively mounted horizontal cylindrical member 20 oftubular construction, herein referred to as a winding tube, and adaptedto have winding cables wound thereon. One end portion of the windingtube 20 has a worm wheel 2| secured thereon. A worm 22 meshes with theworm wheel 2|. The worm 22 is mounted on a shaft 23 that has a crank 24secured thereon for turning said worm. The worm 22 and worm wheel 2|constitute self locking power step-up means by which the winding tube 20may be easily rotated. The worm 22 and worm wheel 2|, being selflocking, will always hold the patient in any position in which he isallowed to come to rest irrespective of the load on the winding cables42 that support the patient.

. Each supporting device comprises a housing formed of an upper portion25 and lower portion 26. In Fig. 5, I show these two housing parts assecured together by screws 21. In Fig. 8, I show similar housing partshinged together at one side and connected by readily releasable cammeans adapted to hold the upper housing part in two diiferent positions.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the worm wheel 2| and worm 22. aredispo'se'dwitln'n the housing parts 25'26 shown at the right and acollar 28 on the winding tube is disposed within the correspondinghousing parts shown at the left. The housings 26 form bearings for the Itwo end portions of the winding tube 26. 7

Each lower housing member has a cylindrical shank 29 that fitstelescopically and removably within an upright supporting tube 36..

The lower end portion of each upright supporting tube 30 fitstelescopically and removably over a cylindrical shank 3| on a bed railclamping plate. 32. An instantly demountable slip joint coupling is thusformed at each end of each upright support 30.

The clamping plate 32 is adapted to cooperate with another clampingplate 33 and with a block 34fand hand screws 35 to securely clamp ontothe side rail 360i a bed; the side rail 36 in this instance beinganangle bar. It is to be noted that the angle bar bed rail 36. will bepositioned T as shown in Fig. 1, in some beds and will be positionedasshown in Fig. 3, in other beds. However the same bed rail clampingparts are used in-both instances.

The block 34 fits within the angle bar 36 and between the clampingplates 32 and 33 and cooperates with said plates and with the handscrews 35 to provide a clamping means that will clamp the angle bar 36firmly and hold the uprightsupports 30 in a vertical position.

In the structure shown in Fig. 3, the block 34 is inverted as respectsthe'showing in Fig. 1. Also the Fig. 3 disclosure shows the angle shapedside rail 31 of a bed spring as resting onthe angle bar bed rai1 36 andpositioned between the I two clamp plates 32 and 33. These clamp plates32 and 33 can also be clamped onto a bed rail of square, rectangular orchannel shaped cross section by omitting the block 34 entirely.

Fig. 4 shows modified clamp means of a type 46. A preferred hook 4| forthis use is shown in Fig, 12, but obviously any readily releasable hookor snap may be used. The hook 4|, shown in Fig. 12, has a longer shankportion that fits rotatively in a sleeve 90. Preferably cable 42 is astrong piece of braided sash cord and this can be firmly secured withinsleeve 90 by inserting one or. more screws 9| through the sleeve 90 andcable 42. This serves to clamp the cable 42 as well as holding it byPassing the screws therethrough. Hook 4| can be turned sidewise from theposition shown in Fig. 12 to engage it with one of the rings or eyemembers of the slings and after being so engaged may be turned back intothe position shown in Fig. l to prevent it from becoming unhooked.

In Fig. 1, I have indicated by dot and dash lines a patients body 43supported in the sling 38 in a slightly elevated position above beddingand mattress 44 that rests on a bed spring 45.

The worm 22 and worm wheel 2| provide efficient power step-up means bywhich any portion of the body or all of the body of a patient may beeasily and gently raised any desired amount and comfortably supported ina raised position for any desired length of time, due to the action ofthe self locking worms, and then easily and gently lowered onto the bed.This makes it easy for any nurse to handle even the heaviest patientsirrespective of the strength of the nurse.

In some instances, such for example as when turning a patient bythe useof the sling shown in Fig. 9, it may be desirable to have independentcontrol of the winding and unwinding of the two lifting cables that areconnected with opposite end portions of the sling member. Figs. 6 and 7show two different winding tube devices for providing such independentcontrol.

In Fig. 6, 56 and 5| are two winding tubes supported in end to endalignment and independently rotatable except when they are lockedtogether, 52 ,is a short tube secured by screws 53 to the tube 56 andextending telescopically into the tube 5 A short tubular housing member54 is provided around the tubes 50 and 5| at the location where theirtwo ends come together. A- spacing ring 55 is interposed between thehousing member 54 and tube 50 and the screws 53 extend through thehousing member 54, spacing ring 55 and tubes 50 and 52 and rigidlysecure all of these parts together. A latch ring 58 is positionedbetween tube 5| and housing 54 and secured by one or more set screws Asling 38, preferably formed of fabric such as drill or canvas, is shownin plan in Fig. 2. and ,an edge view of the same is shown in anoperative position in Fig. 1. Also a sling 39 which can be used with theFig. 1. device is shown in plan in'Fig. 9. Thesling 38, Fig. 2, ispreferably about three feet long and from ten to fifteen inches wide.It'is tapered at each end andprovided at each end with a ring 40. In usethis sling is 'positioned'under the. upper hip and waist por- 59 to thetube 5|. A plurality of radial holes are provided in the latch ring 58for the reception of a latch bolt 6| The latch bolt BI is carried 'by amember' 62 that is secured by a pivot 63 to another member 64. Themember 64 and a flatspring 66 which rests thereon are secured to thehousing 54 by a bolt 65. The spring 66 yieldingly engages the member 62and normally holds the latch member 6| in latched position therebylockingthe two winding tubes 56 and 5| together so' that they willrotate as a unit. When the latch member 6| is with- "drawn from theholes 66 the two winding tubes tion of a patient andthis portion ofthebody raised enough to facilitate'the use of a bed pan. The sling 39,Fig- 9; preferably has a rigid bar 46' in each end. V

Two flexible cables 42 are fixedly secured to the winding tube 26'andconnected by readily releasable means,such as hooks 4|, with'the ringsendwise displacement orpulling apart of the two winding tubes 50 and 5|.

The respective outer end portions of each tube 50 and are connected withworm gear means similar to that hereinbefore described and in which theparts thereof are correspondingly numbered. The housings for these wormgears are similar to housings 2526 except that the two parts thereof areconnected with each other, at one side, by hinge means 6! and a camplate 68 is secured to one housin member 26 by a pivot H. The cam plate65 is provided with a camslot 69 to receive a pin H? on the otherhousing member 25. When the cam plate 68 is in the position shown byfull lines in Fig. 8, the two housing members will be securely lockedtogether and the worm therein will be held in operative mesh with itsworm wheel. When the cam plate 68 is in the position shown by brokenlines in Fig. 8, the two housing members will be held apart and the wormand worm wheel therein will be out of mesh,

It is desirable to be able to hold the worm and worm wheel at one end ofthe two part winding tube 50-5! out of mesh, as abov described, so thatsaid two part winding tube, when the two parts thereof are lockedtogether, may be rotated as a unit by one worm and one worm wheel andthus operated in the same manner as the device of Fig. 1.

The device shown in Fig. 7, is similar to the device shown in Fig. 6,except that an inside shaft 52, which corresponds to shaft 52 of Fig. 6,is made long enough to extend beyond the end portion of the shaft 5! andhas a worm wheel 2| secured thereto. This makes it possible to operatethe two worm gear devices which control the shafts 58 and 5| from oneside of the bed.

The devices having two part winding tubes with an independent worm gearcontrol for'each tube, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. are particularly welladapted for use with the sling 39 of Fig. 9, for turning a patient inbed. When thus used, the sling 39 which is preferably from two to threefeet wide and from thre to four feet long, is slipped under a patientand connected with the flexible cables 42. The cables 42 and sling 39are then wound taut so as to support at least the major portion of theweight of the patient in the sling. The two worm means are thenreversely operated or are operated at different speeds or one worm isoperated while the other is immovable. This turns the patient gently andslowly in the sling. The latch bolt is disengaged while one worm isbeing operated independently of the other.

Obviously the patient can be lifted in the sling 39, without turning insubstantially the same manner as in the sling 38.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a sling long enough to support the body of apatient from head to foot together with cable means, for use inconnection with the winding device of Fig. 1, or Fig. 6, or Fig. '7, tolift said sling.

The sling 13, shown in Fig. 10, is supported on a rectangular framcomprising end bars 14 and side bars 15. The side bars 15 are of twopiece construction telescopically and detachably connected by slip jointmeans 16 thereby making it possible to collapse said side bars into acompact package when the sling is folded.

Each end bar has expansion screw means 11 at one end and has tonguemeans 18 at the other end. The expansion screws 17 each fit into a hole19 in a side rail and thread into an end rail. The tongue members 18each fit into a notch 80 in the end of a side rail. Th expansion screws1'! provide means for stretching the canvas or drill sling member '13transversely of the frame to keep it taut. An opening 8| is provided inthe central portion of the sling member 13.

Each side bar 15 has two eye members 82 connected therewith a shortdistance from th ends of the side rails for the reception of hooks 4| onthe end portions of lifting cables 42. Four lifting cables 42 areprovided two at each side of the sling. Each lifting cable is secured toits winding tube. All of the cables are wound in th same direction onthe winding tube so that when said winding tube is rotated in onedirection all of said cables will be wound up and when said winding.tube is rotated in the other direction all of said cables will beunwound. This provides for raising or lowering the sling of Fig. 10 and,at the same time, keeping it horizontal.

All of the tubular members used in this device are preferably of lightstrong material thereby reducing weight and making the device easy toset up and take down and easy to carry around. The cables 42 may bewound in either direction on the winding tubes depending on how theoperator desires to operate the cranks 24 in lifting the patient.

Th operation of this device is believed to be clear from the foregoingdescription. If a portion of the body of a patient is to be raised, suchfor instance as the hip portion, then the sling 38 of Fig, 2 may beused. This sling may be used with any winding tube means herein shown byoperating the winding tube as one unit. If the patient is to be turnedin bed then preferably the sling 39 shown in Fig. 9 will be used withone of the two part winding tubes as shown either in Fig. 6 or Fig. '7.For thus turning a patient the two winding tubes 50 and 5| willordinarily be operated independently of each other so that one enportion of the sling. 39 may be raised or lowered independently of theother to roll the patient gently in the sling. If one of the slings 39is not long enough to turn the patient entirely over then one sling maybe used for a portion of the turn and a second sling placed on the bedso that the patient, in making the first part of the turn, will beturned onto the second sling thus allowing the second sling to be usedto complete the turn.

The screw 65 preferably allows the hinge means 62-65 to be turnedsidewise far enough when the bolt member is withdrawn from th recess 60so that said bolt member will rest on the housing 54 and be held inunlocked position until it is again manually replaced in one of theopenings 60. This allows for free operation of the winding tubes 50 and5i independently of each other. The self locking worm means always holdsthese tubes in any position in which they are allowed to come to rest.

If the entire body of a patient is to be lifted clear of the bed thenthe sling shown in Fig. 10 is used with any of the winding tube meansherein disclosed and with the cable hook-up shown in Fig. 11. With theapparatus shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the patient can be maintained in ahorizontal position above the bed to facilitate changing the bedding orfor any other purpose. Also, if desired the sling shown in Figs. 10 and11 can be held at an incline by properly adjustin the cables. Forinstance the foot portion of said Sling may be elevated higher than thehead portion thereof or the head portion may be elevated higher than thefoot portion. To do this the length of the cables at one end of thesling would have to be adjusted before the sling was lifted. This mightbe done by giving the cables at one end of the sling an additional turnaround the lifting tube. f y 1 Either of the slings 38 or 39 may be usedto lift and support the shoulder and trunk portions of a patient in aninclined position if desired. Also the slings 3B or 39 may be used tosupport one or both legs of the patient in an elevated position.

The slings, being made out of flexible and pliable fabric may be leftunder the patient in the bed without discomfort to the patient.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclosecertain preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understoodthat this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be madewithin the scope and spirit of the following claims. a

'I claim:

1. A bed sling for handling an invalid in a bed comprising a windingtube formed of two independently rotatable parts having relativelytelescopic portions that extend to a common location; means rotativelysupporting said winding tube crosswise of the bed and in spaced relationabove the bed; locking means operable to lock said two parts togetherfor simultaneous rotation; two power step-up tube-rotating devices bothpositioned adjacent one end of said winding tube and respectivelyconnected with the relatively telescopic portions of said twoindependently rotatable 'parts for selectively rotating either of saidparts from one side of the bedj means for selectively rendering eitherof said tube rotating devices inoperative; an invalid sling; and aflexible lifting member connecting each part of said winding tube withone end portion of said sling. 2. A bed sling for handling an invalid inbed comprising a winding tube formed of two 'inde pendently rotatableparts; means operable to lock said two winding tube parts together andto relatively unlock the same; bearing and support means rotativelysupporting said two part wind ing tube crosswise of the bed and inspaced relation above the bed; two self locking worm devices operativelyconnected with said two independently rotatable winding tube partsrespectively providing an independent power step up and tube rotatingand locking means for each winding tube part; means adapted .toselectively unmesh either of said self locking worm -devices to therebyrender said unmeshed worm zdevice inoperative and provide for theoperation'of both of said winding tube parts when said parts are lockedtogether by the other worm device; an invalid sling; and a flexiblelifting member connecting each winding tube part withone end portion ofsaid sling. t

- 3. A' bed sling for handling an invalid in a bed comprising a windingtube formed of a first winding tube part and a second winding tube part,said two winding tube parts being independently rotatable and of thesame diameter and being positioned in end to end relation and extendingcrosswise of the bed in spaced relation above the bed; bearing meanssupporting said two winding tube parts; a tube of smaller diameter thansaid Winding tube parts rigidly secured to said first winding. tube partand rotatively disposed in said second winding tube part and protrudingoutwardly from the outer end portion of said second winding tube part;two independently operable self locking. power step up worm devicesoperatively connected respectively with the outer end portion of saidsecond winding tube part and with the outwardly protruding end portionof said tube of smaller diameter, said two worm devices being positionedadjacent to each other and at one side of the bed and providingforselective rotation of said first and said second winding tube partfrom one position; an invalid sling; and two flexible lifting memberswound on said first and said second winding tube parts respectively andconnected with the respective end portions of said sling.

CLARENCE E. DIVINE.

